Midfielder O’Toole backs Cobblers to reach the summit

The Cobblers have been gradually climbing the table in recent weeks as a run of 30 points from a possible 39 has taken them level on points with second-placed Oxford United.

Their latest win came down in West Sussex on Tuesday when O’Toole’s goal helped Town see off Crawley 2-1.

And with a home game against bottom-of-the-table Yeovil to come this weekend, O’Toole has no doubts that his side can reach the summit.

“I can definitely see us being top with the form we’re in,” he said afterwards.

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks but it just goes to show the character of the boys - we go a man down and we’re all digging in.

“There’s a real togetherness here and I wouldn’t want to play us at the moment so I’m looking forward to Saturday and I’m sure we can get to the top in the next few weeks - I don’t see why not!”

Northampton looked in cruise control an hour into Tuesday’s game as Joel Byrom’s header followed by O’Toole’s 30-yard screamer saw the visitors deservedly lead 2-0.

But it was far from straightforward thereafter as Brendan Moloney saw red for a professional foul and Simon Walton slotted home the resulting penalty to set up a nervy final 30 minutes.

Once again though, the Cobblers dug deep and managed to grind out all three points.

“It’s never that easy,” added O’Toole. “We felt quite comfortable for the majority of the game but obviously the sending off changed things.

“We should have probably put the game to bed before the penalty and been a bit more ruthless but the lads dug in brilliantly to get the right result.

“The manager said before the game what a big game this is for us. We have to come to these sort of places and get something out of the game and that’s what we’ve done. It’s a big win for us.

“I thought were was a real positiveness about our play going forward and I didn’t feel like they would really score until the penalty and then we were under pressure a bit.

“Every time we go forward we look really dangerous which is always nice.”

On the news that Kelvin Thomas has agreed a deal to buy the club, O’Toole continued: “It’s great news that there might be some sort of closure to it all because it’s been a sticky period for the club.

“It’s brilliant that it might finally get resolved and we can move forward, but we’ve always just had our thoughts on games and concentrating on football.

“Our minds are always on the games and hopefully now we can crack on and take the club forward on the pitch.”